Fate of LA Actor Now in Hands of SoCal Jury

VISTA, Calif. (AP) — The fate of an actor accused of trying to kill his ex-girlfriend is now in the hands of a San Diego County jury.

Jurors began deliberations Wednesday afternoon after closing arguments concluded in the trial of Shelley Malil. The panel recessed late Wednesday without reaching a verdict and deliberations were scheduled to resume Thursday.

Defense attorney Matthew Roberts told jurors in his closing argument that Malil, 45, had a tumultuous relationship with Kendra Beebe but never intended to kill her.

Roberts said there was no doubt defendant Malil went too far when he picked up a kitchen knife during a quarrel with Kendra Beebe after finding her on her patio with another man.

Roberts said the three people tussled over the knife, but he described the incident as normal, saying Malil and Beebe had "ridiculous drama on a daily basis."

There was no physical evidence to prove Malil planned to murder the mother of two, Roberts said.

Malil — who played Haziz, a co-worker of Steve Carell's character in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin — could face 21 years to life in prison if convicted of premeditated attempted murder in the 2008 incident at the home of Beebe, who was stabbed more than 20 times.

Malil also has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon and residential burglary.

Beebe's companion David Maldonado eventually grabbed the knife and threw it over a fence before running to his car to get his cell phone and call 911, the prosecutor said.

The defense said Malil believed Maldonado went to get a gun, so Malil grabbed another knife from the kitchen and walked to a side yard, where Beebe picked up a garden hoe and hit him in the head.

Roberts told jurors Malil began flailing with the knife in the dark to protect himself, and that caused Beebe's most serious injuries.

"Without the intent to kill, he's not guilty," Roberts told jurors.

Roberts said the 45-year-old actor was normally a peaceful, honest man with no history of violence.

After the incident, Roberts said Malil sent Beebe a text message apologizing. He also called her mother to apologize, the lawyer said.

VISTA, Calif. (AP) — The fate of an actor accused of trying to kill his ex-girlfriend is now in the hands of a San Diego County jury.Jurors began deliberations Wednesday afternoon after closing arguments concluded in the trial of Shelley Malil. The panel recessed late...